Hi all... Some of you have read about my search for my grandfather "Lefty"'s wartime experiences. If not, you can read about it here. Anyway, I wanted to start a new thread because my aunt just found a box full of interesting memorabilia! There are a couple of things that I can't identify--can anyone help? View attachment 15829 At the top is an Airborne tab, from the 17th Airborne (black and gold color). Under that is a Good Conduct Medal ribbon. Underneath that is what looks like a VFW logo pin (??), and then some kind of six-pointed gold star. No idea what this is. Maybe related to the VFW? Presidential Unit Citation is under that. Must be from his time in the 82nd Airborne because I don't think the 17th got one. To the right of the Presidential Unit Citation is his Good Conduct Medal, with the ribbon pin from his Bronze Star above that. Vertically on the right is a ribbon bar with Good Conduct ribbon, American Campaign ribbon and Europe/Africa/Middle East campaign ribbon with three campaign stars. Underneath the Presidential Unit Citation is the WWII Victory Medal ribbon. Under that are his glider wings, with what appears to be some kind of red cloth backing. Red makes sense because he was in the artillery, but it appears to have a white line on the top and bottom of it--no idea what this is; is that just what the cloth backing to the wings looked like? I know the airborne wore colored cloth behind their wings. Anyone? Under his glider wings is the Ruptured Duck pin; to the right of that is maybe a pin fastener (?). Under that is an upside-down ribbon bar featuring the Good Conduct ribbon and EAME campaign ribbon, with fasteners visible. No idea what the chain and cufflink-looking thing is in the lower left. Maybe not military related at all. Any ideas? Lower right is a single dog tag. I was pretty excited to learn this stuff existed! FYI it is all contained in the box from his Bronze Star. The medal itself was stolen in the late 60s during a robbery in my Grandparents' house. Any help on the unidentified stuff? I live in Minnesota and my aunt is in Pittsburgh, so I don't actually have possession of this stuff; yet. All I've seen is the picture. Can't wait to acquire it though, and use it to make a nice shadow box!
It's a shame about the original Bronze Star, but there's his Glider Wings! I don't think the six pointed star is military-must be VFW, at least I've never run across one. Looks like the chain is attached to the dog tag-could be a replacement. The cufflinks, I believe, are non-military. The thing to the right of the Ruptured Duck pin looks like the back side of a Ruptured Duck pin. I think you have everything else nailed. If you sent for a replacement set of medals you'll have a Bronze Star and everything else for a great display. Post a picture when you finish.
that red cloth under the glider wings is not a wing backing as those were oval. it almost looks like part of a medal ribbon
I know he served in the 17th--I have his OMPF, including his DD-214. He was with the 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (17th Airborne) for the majority of the war, and then the 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (82nd AB) beginning in June of 45, after the 17th AB was deactivated. You are correct in that he didn't serve in the same battalion that transferred from one division to the other; he transferred units. The above information is what I have from his file.
I have a question about that actually... Do you think he qualified to wear parachute wings? He didn't transfer to the 376th PFAB until June 23, 1945, and there is no mention in the file about him qualifying to wear jump wings. Does a transfer to a parachute battalion mean that he would have worn them, or would he have had to make five jumps or whatever to qualify? Glad you brought it up; I was curious. I'm also curious about whether or not he should have a star on his Glider Wings, and/or an arrowhead device for his EAME ribbon, since he was almost definitely involved in Operation Varsity (given the dates /locations in his file and where I know the 17th was on March 24, 1945)... Any ideas A-58 or anyone else? Thanks a lot for the help!
No, just being in a parachute unit does not rate wearing the parachute wings. You have to complete jump school to wear the wings. There were several jump schools in the US during the war, and at least one in England to provide jump qualified replacements for the airborne units in the ETO. Seems that he was transferred to the 376th PFAB after VE Day, so there was no pressing need to be jump qualified at the time. It's hard to tell from my sources, but I can't determine whether or not the artillery units made the assault in Operation Varsity. This is not uncommon in airborne operations like this in WW2. It was a relatively short operation in comparison to Overlord and Market Garden, so the artillery units might have been left behind for that reason. Also there was a shortage of aircraft available to deliver all the units earmarked for the operation. The US 13th Airborne Division was left behind for this very reason. The operation commenced on 24 Mar 45 and the British Guards Armored Division had punched through to the drop zones by the 27th. If his DD214 didn't indicate his rating a star on his glider wings, his unit was not involved in the initial assault. They more than likely crossed the river and joined the division's area of operation several days later.
This is great stuff, thank you A-58. In his Service Record (AGO Form 24) there is an insert titled "Foreign Service". It lists the country my grandfather was in and "from" and "to" dates, throughout the ETO. It lists Belgium from 22 Mar 45 to 24 Mar 45, and then Germany from 24 Mar 45 to 15 June 45. I guess that's why I assumed that he must have made the Operation Varsity assault, since the March 24th date leapt out at me. Was I wrong in thinking that? Is it possible that he entered Germany on that day, but not actually during whatever assault phase that would qualify him for a star on his wings? Thanks a ton for bearing with me through this! I know I'm a complete noob but I'm trying hard to learn.
Good information A-58. My book reads that the stars for the Senior and Master jump wings were not authorized until 1949. Some guys in WWII drilled holes in their wings and attached small bronze stars for each combat jump but it wasn't authorized. I'm sure it's the same for the glider badge. I don't think they ever used gliders after the war so the star would not be an issue. I looked at the Bronze arrowhead and it was allowed for an amphibious, parachute, or glider assualt. If he was involved in the assault during Operation Varsity, he would be entitled to one. Dave
Yes, the arrowheads would have been on the DD214 to indicate combat assaults as well. I forgot about those little gems. I had the pleasure of seeing a WW2 set of jump wings with 4 stars on it, indicating the 4 combat jumps associated with the 504th PIR. I know, some of you are looking it up on Stanton now, and are finding out that the '04 only made 3 combat jumps. Just so happens that this particular man volunteered to jump in at Normandy with the Pathfinder Platoon for the 82nd. The '04 missed D-Day, arriving in England in May of '44 from Italy. They weren't ready for the Normandy Invasion, so the 507th filled in for them. Back to your question about the star on the glider wings adam. If the unit was not in on the initial assault, then no jump star for them. The star indicates a combat jump, or landing as far as the glider riders are concerned. The DZ (drop zone) has to be hot (opposed) to rate the star. Usually artillery was dropped or delivered by glider after the drop zone was secured, along with other heavy equipment and supplies. Sometimes that was days later, if at all. Look what happened to the British 1st Airborne in Arnhem during Market Garden. No supplies, no artillery, no nothing but a rough time. No point in dropping valuable ordnance in the lap of the enemy eh? They might use it on you!
Ah, that makes perfect sense, yes! No sense in gifting the enemy a bunch of your 75s. No hot DZ=no star. I didn't think that through; thanks!
Far from official, and it has some funky language (field artillery does not normally seize objectives), but this website indicates the 680th GFAB assault landed on March 24, 1945. It might not "qualify" him for a star on his wings but it might award an arrow for the Central Europe campaign. IIRC your grandfather(?) was in the HQ Battery so he may not have been in on the operation. It would take some more research but the date for entering Germany on his DD-214 is a good reason to look harder. The 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB) - Unit History "This would be the last full scale airborne operation of the war and the first combat glider landing for the 680th GFAB. The 680th's mission was to land north of Wesel in Landing Zone (LZ) S, a large flat area where the Issel River and the Issel Canal merge. Then to seize the crossing over the Issel and protect the division's right flank. .... By mid-afternoon on 24 March 1945 after sustaining high casualties, the 680th had secured its objective including the capture of 150 German prisoners, a battery of German 105-mm and a battery of 155-mm artillery.. By 26 March FM Montgomery had sufficient forces on the German side of the river to move eastward. "
Thanks Earthican! I've seen that link yeah; I think you are right too--as a member of HQ Battery my guess is he wasn't actually in on the operation; that story about the capture of the 150 prisoners sure sounds interesting though! Can't wait to delve deeper into that!
For your enthusiastic participation in this search, I have gone the extra mile and found the official record. The attached shows the 680th GFAB has three campaign credits, a Distinguished Unit Citation, dated 1947 (Presidential Unit Citation ?), an Assault Landing Credit and an Occupation Credit. Is that three Battle Stars and an Arrow? Bully for you
It does indeed, wow! Thanks for the great research work! Is this reference from Stanton's book? I feel like I need a copy of that, haha. I am surprised to learn about the DUI/PUI award; the only thing I've been able to find online about the 680th GFAB of any worth (The 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion (GFAB) - Unit History) doesn't mention it. But, if I've learned anything during this little project, it's that I don't know too much at all! Thanks again for doing that; very cool.
We are all glad to help out. Make sure to post your project here for all of us to see when you are done. We'd like to see it too.
It is interesting to note the recalls progressivilly go from one to wo and then three three recall bars. This will allow you to find out which medal was award first and which ones were awarded later. By the way allow me to thank your grandfather for his service. He seems to have been quite a tough guy.
What is a recall bar? I'm not familiar with that terminology. I sure wish I could have thanked my grandfather for his service! I guess my project is my way of doing that. I'm told he was a great guy; that makes me happy.
